USA > Texas > The encyclopedia of Texas, V.2 > Part 57
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About two years after coming to Texas, Judge Russell was married to Miss Jennie Matthews, now deceased. She was a daughter of M'r. and Mrs. C. Matthews, of Canton, Texas, but originally from Mississippi. To this union three children were
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:. in, namely: Winnie Davis Russell, deceased ; ideen Alannah, now Mrs. Eileen Wittram, of Dal- was and Henry Gilchrist Russell, a prominent at- : rey residing in Pecos, Texas.
Judge Russell's second marriage was to Miss 1 :zabeth Ford, a native of Mississippi, who was :vared in Texas. Her father, John Ford, a native .! North Carolina, was reared in Mississippi. Her w .. ther, Mrs. Mira (Love) Ford, was of an Alabama family. To them one child was born, namely, An- · · Laurie, now Mrs. Cliff Bullock, of Little Rock, Arkansas. The Russell home is located at 2821 MeKinney Avenue.
Judge Russell died in Kerrville, Texas, Septem- !! 14, 1919. He was a member of the A. F. & A. y. and the Baptist Church. Judge Russell was regarded as one of the big men of Texas politics, and held many offices of honor and trust at the hands of his fellow man. He was an orator of ality, and whenever important questions arose bis aid was always sought. There was never a doubt or question as to where he stood upon any wque affecting his state or country. Like all strong, militant men, ever ready to fight out in the open for those men or causes he espoused, he made friends and enemies, the latter often being won over to him because of his sincerity of pur- fuse. He saw much service in public station, and in private life he long wielded an influence for good, both by precept and example that will ever live in the hearts of those who knew him. In his passing Texas lost a noble man, whose career brought honor to himself and credit to his state.
LIVER PERRY BOWSER, a pioneer in the real estate circles of Dallas, was one of the builders of this city. It was through his personal efforts that people from the East were brought here and shown the opportunities of the North Texas Metropolis and invested their mon- ey here on the advice of this city builder.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Bowser was born near Dayton, March 21, 1843. His parents, David and Mary (Bookwalter) Bowser were natives of Illinois and members of prominent families of that State. His education was received in the schools of Dallas County, where his parents had moved when he was ten years of age. When he came here nearly every- body lived in log houses and the log cabin school, which he attended, was to be found in every com- munity. Mr. Bowser was one of the leaders of that group of far-visioned men whose hardihood and public spirit laid the foundation for the city of Dallas. Their civic enterprise had more to do with the development of this city than any other factor. As the tide of immigration moved into the State from the East and North, railroad builders began to look toward the Lone Star State. Mr. Bowser was among the first Dallas citizens to go out after the proposed railroads and was instrumental in bringing both the Houston and Texas Central and the Texas and Pacific railroads to this city.
His real business career was started with Mr. W. HI. Lemmon, in the implement business in which he remained for three years, when he joined Mr. Lem- mon in the real estate business, his partnership being broken by the death of Mr. Lemmon. Later Mr. Bowser established the firm of O. P. Bowser and Company, having a nephew associated with him. This firm was very successful and handled
city and ranch properties. His business career was interrupted by the Civil War, in which he served as a Confederate soldier. Returning to Texas at the close of hostilities he again took his place among the leading business men of Dallas.
Mr. Bowser was married in Dallas County, July 16th, 1866, to Miss Virginia L. Murray, whose par- ents, Russell Watt and Mary ( Barbour) Murray, were natives of Kentucky and members of the first families of that State. One child was born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowser: David Watt Bowser, born in Dallas and for many years a well known lawyer of this city. The Bowser home is located at 721 Fourth Avenue.
Mr. Bowser died in Dallas, December 14, 1915. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Christian Church and many civic and commercial organizations of this city. Mr. Bowser was through- out his life, not only a leader in the affairs of his city, but of the entire Statc. He served as a mem- ber of the 25th Legislature and in 1897 was a mem- ber of the State Senate, during which session he was one of the most active members in behalf of good roads. He is often referred to as the father of the good roads system of Texas. Few men have ever served their cities and communities as nobly and as effectively as did Mr. Bowser.
ILLIAM AUGUSTUS BABCOCK was for many years a factor in the business life of Dallas where he organized and operated the Dallas Coffee and Spice Mills, the first in- dustry of its kind in this city. Starting his mill on a small scale Mr. Babcock soon built up a large busi- ness and the plant was enlarged to meet the demand which grew with the years. The firm was located at the corner of Live Oak Street and Pacific Avenue.
A native of New York State. Mr. Babcock was born in Oswego on March 30, 1851. His parents, Leander and Helen (Bronson) Babcock, were na- tives of New York State. His education was received in Oswego, New York. His first work was in a paper pulp mill in New York State, but after a few years he moved to Dallas where he became successful in his business undertakings.
Mr. Babcock was married in Dallas, January 5, 1887. to Miss Blanche Aldehoff, a daughter of H. W. Aldehoff, a native of Dusseldorf, who came to the United States as a very young man. Her mother, Mrs. Rowena (Sevier) Aldchoff, was a native of Kingston. Tennessee, and a member of one of the foremost families of that city. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Babcock, all of whom are resi- dents of Dallas: Florence, now Mrs. Bernard Roe- mer; John Leander and William A. of Dallas. The Babcock home is located at 2525 Fairmount Street.
Mr. Babcock died in Dallas, January 20, 1895. He was a member of the Commercial Club, the Epis- copal Church, and other organizations. Mr. Bab- cock took an active interest in matters pertaining to the welfare and upbuilding of Dallas where he was known as one of its most public spirited citizens and progressive business men. Coming here in the early days he launched a business venture that was wholly unknown in this part of the Southwest and built it up until it became one of the largest of its kind of the country. He made many friends in North Texas and to these his death was more than a personal bereavement, it was a distinct loss to Dallas and the Lone Star State.
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HARLES EDGAR NASH, for more than thirty years, was one of the leaders in the business circles of Fort Worth, where he was the executive head of one of the largest organizations of its kind in this city. As president of the Nash Hardware Company, which was founded more than half a century ago, Mr. Nash built this business from a small retail store to one of the largest and most important wholesale hardware firms of Texas. He also was associated with several other leading commercial and financial enterprises of Fort Worth. and was active in civic and educational movements for the betterment of this city and the welfare of its citizenship.
A native of Minnesota, Mr. Nash was born in Saint Paul, April 8, 1861. His father, Z. E. B. Nash, a native of Pennyan, New York, came to Texas in 1872 and founded the Nash Hardware Company. His mother, Mrs. Octavia (Mills) Nash, was a native of Vermont, and a member of a well known family of that state. His education was received in the schools of Fort Worth. He started his business career in 1886, with the Nash Hard- ware Company and after the death of his father a few years later, he took over the business, which has kept pace with the growth of this city. The Nash Hardware Company was founded as a small retail store, located at 1507 Main street. Later, it was rebuilt and enlarged and then started to sell to both the wholesale and retail trade. After several years, the building at Seventh and Jones streets was erected and the company then engagd in the wholesale business exclusively. It was through the personal efforts of Mr. Nash as its head, that the Nash Hardware Company grew to its present day dimensions, and is known through- out the Southwest, shipping its merchandise all over Texas and to points in the contiguous states.
Mr. Nash was married in Fort Worth ,June 28, 1898, to Miss Edith Bennett, a native of Rochester, Minnesota, and a member of a prominent family of that city and state. Her father, David Chapman Bennett, a native of Pennsylvania, was active in the affairs of that state until his removal to Fort Worth. He was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness here and was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Fort Worth, which he served as first vice president for many years. Mrs. C. E. Nash's mother, Mrs. Mary Carolyn (Joy) Bennett, was a native of Orono, Maine, and a member of a well known family of that state. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Nash : Charles Edgar, Jr., and David Bennett, both of whom are associated with the Nash Hardware Company, being the third generation to own and operate this great establishment. The Nash home is located at 747 Samuels avenue.
Mr. Nash died in Rochester. Minnesota, Septem- ber 13, 1917. For twenty-five years he was a member of the Knights of Pythias. For many years he served as a member of the school board of Fort Worth, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Congregational Church. In his honor, one of the grammar schools in Fort Worth was named for him. He was president of the State Hardware and Jobbers Association and as the head of this organization, its progress along many lines was marked. He was a director of the First National Bank of Fort Worth and in- terested in other financial and business enterprises
here. Charles Edgar Nash was a factor in the affairs of Fort Worth, where for more than thirty years, he occupied a place of leadership. His many attributes of character endeared him to a wide circle of friends, and his carcer brought not only honor to himself but credit to his city and state.
EORGE HILL MULKEY. One of the real pioneers of Fort Worth, George Hill Mulkey came here in 1862, and was close- ly associated with the history of the city for upward of three score years and there were few activities during that period that had as their objective the betterment of Fort Worth that he did not actively support. Mr. Mulkey, a native of Arkansas, came to Texas around 1860, and began in the grocery business in Cleburne, following which he came to Fort Worth and went with Boaz & Ellis, pioneer real estate men and bankers of this city. He was connected with that firm for several years, then bought a paint and paper business, and operated this for a time, building up a large business. Mr. Mulkey then bought a large ranch in Martin and Howard Counties and from that time forward was connected with ranch- ing. He also had real estate holdings in Fort Worth, and divided his time between the ranch and looking after his interests here.
George Hill Mulkey was born in Columbus, Arkansas, the first of July, 1847, and was a son of William A. and Annis Pinkerton (Reid) Mulkey. William A. Mulkey, a native of Bibb County. Georgia, lived in Arkansas for many years and was well known there as a Methodist preacher. Mrs. Mulkey was a native of Lexington, Kentucky. Abe Mulkey, one of the best known evangelists of the Methodist Church, was a brother of George Hill Mulkey. He was one of the most brilliant preachers of Methodism. George Hill Mulkey was educated in McKenzie College, Clarksville, Texas, where the family lived tor a number of years. Fol- lowing this he began his business career at Cle- burne, shortly coming to Fort Worth, his home for more than sixty years.
Mr. Mulkey was married at Fort Worth, on the twenty-second day of December, 1880, to Miss Frances E. Anderson, a native Texan, and a daugh- ter of William and Mary Temple (Dickson) Ander- son, the former, a native of Kentucky; the latter of Shelbyville, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Mulkey were the parents of seven children, four of whom survive, they being, Dr. Young J., of Fort Worth; Miss Madge, of Fort Worth; Ethel, wife of J. L. Stuckert, of Fort Worth; and George F., of Gar- land. Mr. Mulkey was married prior to his mar- riage to Miss Anderson, to Miss Minnie Graves. who at her death left two children, Carl, of Fort Worth; and Webb, now deceased.
Mr. Mulkey belonged to the Mulkey Memorial Southern M. E. Church, which was named for his father and mother; and to which he was a heavy contributor. His death occurred the thirteenth day of December, 1926, just a few weeks before his eightieth birthday.
Throughout his career Mr. Mulkey always had the best interests of his com- munity at heart. As a young man he served his city as a member of the city council and when the commission form of government was inaugurated he served as the first fire and police commissioner.
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ENRY WILLIAM LUSHER, for more than forty years, was one of the leading con- tractors and builders of Fort Worth, where many of the large business and office suings and residences stand as monuments to handiwork.
A native of Germany, Mr. Lusher was born in Mecklinburg, March 20, 1857. His father, Wil- am Lusher, and his mother, Mrs. Sophia (Reth- we:sch) Lusher, were natives of Germany. He came to America with his parents in 1862, settling near Columbus, Indiana, where they engaged in farming on land that still is the property of the Lusher family. Mr. Lusher stayed on the farm until he was thirteen years of age, when he began to work for others. As a very young man, he varted as a carpenter's apprentice and helped build residences in his neighborhood. At the age of eighteen, he started in the contracting and building business for himself. He was self-edu- cated, having attended school only nine months during his early boyhood. He went to Columbus, Indiana, and engaged in contracting on a large scale until 1882, when he went to Camden, Arkansas, and formed a partnership with E. S. Townsend, under the firm name of Townsend & Lusher. Later he moved to Hope, Arkansas, where he continued his building activities until coming to Fort Worth in 1884. His first work here was for W. P. Thomas, an uncle and foster father of Mrs. Lusher, and after this he started on his building career in the up-town district, where he built many of the large and important structures. In 1892 he dissolved partnership with Mr. Townsend and formed an association with C. E. Rockett, under the firm name of Lusher & Rockett, after which he started to build residences in Fort Worth. Numbered among the beautiful homes which this firin constructed here are those of Morris Berney, S. L. Fowler and Neil P. Anderson. They built many other fine homes here and in the surrounding territory. Mr. Lusher built all of the buildings at Texas Woman's College from its beginning to the present structures. He. with the late George Mulkey and Bishop Boaz, looked after all the financial obligations. This school was first called Polytechnic and was co-educational. The firm had their own planing mills and turned out the finest of work, employing only skilled labor.
Mr. Lusher was married in Fort Worth, April 30, 1885, in the first residence he had built in this city, to Miss Martha L. Oglesby, a daughter of J. 11. and Mary (Thomas) Oglesby. Her parents came to Fort Worth in 1872 in a covered wagon, from Middle Tennessee where for many years her father was engaged in contracting. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lusher: Etta, now the wife of W. V. Bowman, who resides in Woodward, Oklahoma and has charge of the Coco-Cola plant at that place; Henry William, Jr., leading con- tractor of Fort Worth; Mary Willie, married to J. K. Barnes, district manager of a savings bank of Fort Worth and president of the Business Men's Mutual Life Insurance Company; Nannie Pauline. married to Captain Wright Armstrong, who is general manager of the Trinity & Brazos Valley railroad; and Jack O., manager of the Coco-Cola plant in Perryton, Texas, and one of the leading business men of Ochiltree County. The Lusher home is located at 1330 Sixth avenue, where the
family has resided for more than thirty-five years.
Mr. Lusher died in Fort Worth, December 24, 1927. He was a charter member of the Woodmen of the World, and a charter member and steward of the Methodist Church. Mr. Lusher had an abiding faith in the future of Fort Worth and invested in real estate here which has grown in value with the years. He was closely identified with the civic and commercial life of Fort Worth for more than four decades and during this period exerted an influence for good in a wide range of activities. A leader in the building profession, he was an exponent of the highest standards in busi- ness. His many attributes of character endeared him to a wide host of friends and Fort Worth is richer by his having been its citizen.
TONEWALL JACKSON CAMERON. For a score of years, the name of Stone- wall Jackson Cameron was well known in merchandising circles of Fort Worth. Mr. Cameron came to Fort Worth in 1905, after having been engaged in the clothing business at Quanah for five years and went with the W. C. Stripling Company of this city with which he was associated for twenty-one years. After several years in the men's clothing, furnishings and hat departments, Mr. Cameron became manager and buyer for the boys' department, holding this posi- tion for the remainder of the time that he was a member of the Stripling personnel. Mr. Cameron was a wise choice as head of such a department, for he knew and liked boys, and he made friends of his young customers, a factor that played no small part in the success of the department. He was indefatigable in his efforts to build up his de- partinent, taking a great pride in its successful operation, and few men in the entire Stripling personnel found more opportunities to show their interest in the growth of the company in more practical ways.
Stonewall Jackson Cameron was born in Wingo, Kentucky, on the seventeenth day of February, 1879, and was a son of George W. Cameron and Adeline (Baker) Cameron, both natives of Ken- tucky. Mr. Cameron spent his boyhood days in his native state, attending schools near his home. In 1900, he came to Texas, going first to Quanah, where he was in the clothing business until 1905. He then came to Fort Worth and became associ- ated with the W. C. Stripling Company.
· Mr. Cameron was married at Quanah, Texas, on the second day of September. 1903, to Miss Gus- sie Coffman, a native of Texas, and the daughter of James Coffman and Mattie (LeMond) Coffman, both natives of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Cameron were the parents of three children; Margaret Ann, Lyle Carlton, and Jack Coffman, who, with their mother, reside at 2246 Washington Avenue.
Mr. Cameron was an elder in the Hemphill Presbyterian Church, where he held membership for many years. His death occurred on the twen- ty-seventh day of April, 1926. Mr. Cameron was known to his associates as a man of unquestioned integrity, and was actuated in his business life by the highest ideals. In his relation with his many boy customers, he was governed by a desire. not only to serve them in a business way, but to be their friend, and few men were better or more generally liked by the boys of Fort Worth, as well as by the older citizens of this city.
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EORGE EDGAR COWDEN, a pioneer cat- tleman of Texas, and the first settler to build a home in the territory surround- ing Midland, was a power in the develop- ment of West Texas. When he went into the plains country, there was nothing but the vast empire of grazing land, with no sign of develop- ment along any line. Later in life, he became one of the builders of Fort Worth, doing as much for this city as he had done for the West Texas area in the earlier days. He was associated with many of the worthwhile industrial and financial or- ganizations of this city, and also was a leader in the banking profession here, and in many parts of the state, where he promoted and organized the first banks in several of the small growing towns.
A native son of Texas, Mr. Cowden was born in Shelby County, December 6, 1855. His father, W. H. Cowden, a native of Georgia, came to Texas in the early days, and became one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Shelby County, where he lived for many years. His mother, Mrs. Car- rie (Lidden) Cowden, was a native of Alabama, and a member of one of the outstanding families of that state. He was educated in the schools of Texas. He started his career in the cattle busi- ness, and never left this industry entirely, al- though he had many other interests in various parts of the state. He came to Fort Worth about 1908, and identified himself with the business life of this city. He was vice president and di- rector of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank, and was largely instrumental in the erection of the Farmers & Mechanics Bank building, and was known as the father of this bank and building. He was the organizer and a director of the Hub Furniture Company, one of the founders and a director of the Fort Worth Life Insurance Com- pany. He was president of the Fakes Fur- niture Company, one of the largest stores in this part of the state. He was a stockholder in banks located at Odessa, Abilene, Midland, Stanton, Seminole, and Alvord, Texas, and Roswell, New Mexico. He owned large ranches in the South- ern part of the State, near San Antonio, and, with his son, owned and operated a large ranch in Erath County. He was widely known throughout Texas as one of the most charitable men of his time, always assisting the needy, whether through or- ganization or through personal appeal.
Mr. Cowden was married in Eastland County, Texas, October 20, 1879. to Miss Minnie G. Dy- sart, a native of Missouri, and a member of a pioneer family of that state. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cowden, three of whom are living: Lillie, now Mrs. Burleson Staten, of El Paso; Grover E. Cowden, a familiar figure in the business and social life of Fort Worth, and Grace, now Mrs. R. P. Henry, of Lancaster, Texas. The deceased children were Ertha Lee, and Ruth. In the memory of her late husband, Mrs. Cowden erected the George E. Cowden Music Hall, at the Baptist Seminary, in Fort Worth, which is .the only gospel music hall in the world. The Cow- den home, which is one of the most beautful man- sions in Fort Worth, is located at 1519 Pennsyl- vania Avenue.
Mr. Cowden died in Fort Worth, July 29, 1921. He was a member of the A. F. & A. M., the Fort Worth Club and the Broadway Baptist Church,
in which he was a deacon for many years. Per- haps in the history of Texas, no man did more for the plains country than did Mr. Cowden, and after his removal to Fort Worth, his contribu- tions to the upbuilding of this city were many. His was the soul of the pioneer, dauntless and un- afraid, and upon the foundation of his charac- ter, were built lasting institutions that will en- dure the stress of time and change. Mr. Cow- den still lives, his memory safely enshrined within the hearts and souls of those who treasure the thought of his life and his work, his character still a splendid inspiration to those who remem- ber liis life of unselfish service. It is said by friends who were closest to him, that if all the people he had befriended during his life, begin- ning with the cowboy on the plains, looking for work and a place to sleep and eat, up through the years of his service to the many of the needy in the city, should- place one flower on his grave, there would be a monument reaching almost to the blue skies of Texas.
URR WILSON COUCH, of Fort Worth, for many years, was a power in the cot- tonseed oil industry of the Lone Star State, where he organized and built some of the largest cottonseed oil mills of his day.
A native son of Texas, Mr. Couch was born in Ellis County, July 14, 1869. His father, J. C. Couch, was one of the leading farmers of Ellis County. His education was obtained in the schools of Texas, after which he attended Hope Institute, in Italy, Texas. As a young man, Mr. Couch started hs career as a druggist in Italy, Texas, where, for about two years, he owned one of the leading drug stores. He then engaged in the gro- cery business there for two or three years, later entering the cotton and life insurance business in Italy for three years, after which he sold these interests and entered the cottonseed oil business and for ten years was one of the leaders in this field in Ellis County. He also was identified with the banking business during this decade, having organized the Citizens National Bank, of Italy. As mayor of Italy, he aided the civic development of his community. In 1911, he came to Fort Worth, and with Winfield Scott as his associate, for several years owned and operated the Mutual Oil Company. Later, he organized and built the Traders Cottonseed Oil Company, of which he was the president, manager and principal owner Dur- ing his residence in Fort Worth, he was interested in other enterprises and was a director of the First National Bank, of this city.
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